By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : Palestinians have expressed a demand a regular army be formed for the free Palestinian State sought after at the current negotiations, according to Israeli media.
“Behind closed doors, Israeli and Palestinian officials have confirmed … PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia is demanding an army be built for future Palestinian nation,” said Ynet news on its webpage Monday.
The article noted the demand comes “Despite previous understandings that a future Palestinian state would be demilitarized.”
Ynet further claimed “High-level Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed the newly revealed developments.”
“The new and surprising demand first emerged as the negotiations teams sat down in Jerusalem last Sunday to discuss security arrangements. Qureia told Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni that the Palestinian state would require a regular army to defend itself.
A “perplexed” Livni had in reply “made clear that all previous accords specifically spoke of a demilitarized Palestinian state.”
A senior Israeli source said the Israeli FM had inquired whether Qureia had meant a police force, but got the answer that the PA was after a proper regular army, the paper said.
“The source added that the new Palestinian stipulation incensed Livni,” added the paper.